October 21, 2022 Update

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

SPANISH VERSION

In Today’s Update:

• County receives $4.5 million to build new animal shelter

• County addresses surge in fentanyl deaths

• Community meeting assists flood-impacted mountain residents

• Earthquake retrofit grant available to homeowners

• Profiles in Hope series highlights milestones made by at-risk county residents

• Record number attend Children’s Network Conference

• County hosted Halloween events (Listing)

• Pet of the Week

• Jobs of the week

County Receives $4.5 Million to Build New Animal Shelter

San Bernardino County received $4.5 million in the new state budget to help build a new animal shelter. The funding came through a budget request championed by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace). The new state-of-the-art animal shelter will be built in the unincorporated community of Bloomington.

“Effective animal care services are an essential function of county government,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “We are extremely grateful to Majority Leader Reyes, who has actively supported our Public Health Department with this critical state funding. The new County animal shelter is an investment that will improve our care for abandoned pets and other animals across the region.”

“This new animal shelter is an important investment in public health and safety for the residents of my district,” said Reyes. “I am pleased to work with San Bernardino County to fund this new project and to see substantial investment in the unincorporated area of Bloomington.”

Architectural designs are still being finalized for the new San Bernardino County Animal Care Center. Under current plans, the new facility will greatly expand the physical capacity to care for more animals while allowing more partnerships with cities across the County. The new shelter will feature expanded and improved services like onsite veterinary care, pet adoption, greater housing capacity and larger play yards for animals. The County Public Health Department also hopes the new facility will enhance partnerships with non-profit animal rescue groups and allow for greater activity by animal care volunteers.

“This additional state funding, plus the County resources we have already reserved for this project, will allow us to complete this tremendous new animal shelter,” said Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., whose Fifth District includes Bloomington. “We appreciate the efforts of Majority Leader Reyes to obtain this important funding for the new Bloomington facility. Once completed, this modern shelter will let us house more dogs, cats, and other animals while providing better treatment and care.”

Get Smart About Drugs website is a DEA resource for parents, educators and caregivers. Video courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

County Addresses Surge in Fentanyl Deaths

San Bernardino County’s Public Health Officer has issued a health advisory to bring attention to the dangers of fentanyl due to a marked increase of overdose deaths in the county. Health advisories are issued to raise public awareness when a significant threat to public health is identified, along with recommendations to eliminate or mitigate the risk.

In 2018 there were 30 fentanyl overdose deaths in the county. The number rose to 74 in 2019, and then to 227 in 2020. Last year, there were 309 fentanyl overdose deaths in the county.

Several County agencies – Public Health, Sheriff, District Attorney, Behavioral Health, County Superintendent of Schools, and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – are collaborating with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and schools to develop strategies to raise awareness and identify solutions to reduce fentanyl use.

“Deaths related to opioid use, such as fentanyl, are completely preventable,” said the County’s Health Officer Dr. Michael Sequeira. “Efforts to reduce the effects of opioid overdose and death are a top priority for San Bernardino County.”

A bunch of rainbow colored pills are shown in a pile.

Sequeira is also warning people to be aware of the emergence of “rainbow fentanyl,” which is a potentially fatal drug found in pills and powders in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes that could be attractive to young people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a cheap synthetic drug 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and is responsible for more overdose deaths than any other illegal drug in the United States. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States. Fentanyl’s increased presence in the drug supply is a key contributor to the increase in overdose deaths.

A side-by-side depiction of a real prescription pill and a fake one laced with fentanyl.

A photo depicts an authentic and a fake prescription pill side-by-side. Learn more about the One Pill Can Kill campaign. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Many illegal drugs, including counterfeit prescription opioid pills, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy, can be mixed with fentanyl with or without a person’s knowledge, as they would not be able to see, taste, or smell the fentanyl.

The Department of Public Health is working on implementing various strategies to protect the community, including:

Increasing the availability and accessibility of Naloxone. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time.
Integrating harm reduction intervention services in the community. Harm reduction emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and connect them to support services.
Providing opioid awareness and overdose prevention education.

Anyone who encounters fentanyl in any form should not handle it and should call 911 immediately.

Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life. Here are some things to look for:

Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
Falling asleep or losing consciousness
Slow, weak, or no breathing
Choking or gurgling sounds
Limp body
Cold and/or clammy skin
Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)

To learn more about how Public Health is working to address the opioid epidemic, visit Opioid (Fentanyl) Response Initiative.

Community Meeting Assists Flood-Impacted Mountain Residents

Dozens of county residents gathered in Yucaipa last week to learn from county, state and federal experts how to protect themselves and their homes from future floods and debris flows and what resources are available to help them recover from past events.

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and National Weather Service warned residents downstream of the El Dorado and Apple fire burn scars to be prepared to protect themselves whenever rain appears in the forecast. Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Dawn Rowe, whose Third Supervisorial District includes the threatened communities, organized the Oct. 13 community meeting and assembled the agency experts to ensure residents have the resources they need.

Present were San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, Congressman Jay Obernolte, the Sheriff’s Department, the County Fire District, County Public Works, County Land Use Services, County Public Health, Cal Fire, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other agencies.

A photo of a yellow story house slanted toward the ground from the front porch due to an earthquake.

Earthquakes, large or small, can occur at any time. In a damaging earthquake, will your house remain on its foundation? Are you prepared? The California Residential Mitigation Program has created a way for you, the homeowner, to help protect your property and your loved ones.

Through the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program, you may register for a grant of up to $3,000 to seismically retrofit your home. This program aims to help homeowners lessen the potential for damage to their houses during an earthquake by “bracing” the crawl space, when necessary, and “bolting” the house to its foundation. Income-eligible homeowners also may apply for supplemental grants that could provide up to 100 percent of the retrofit costs. Homeowners can apply for grants online during the registration period, which extends from October 18 through November 29, 2022.

Thanks to additional funding from FEMA that is administered by Cal OES, EBB grants will be available to homeowners in 521 ZIP Codes this year.

A graphic that says 17 thousand plus retrofit minimizing earthquake damage one house at a time.

To date, more than 17,500 Californians have retrofitted their homes with grant funding from EBB. Learn more, find out if you qualify, and register at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.

Resources are available at EBBTools.com for you to share the program with your neighbors, constituents, colleagues, or others,

Please confirm if zip codes in your jurisdiction are eligible here: EBB Program ZIP Codes.

Profiles in Hope Series Highlights Milestones Made by At-Risk County Residents

The Profiles of Hope series will bring you stories of San Bernardino County residents who have experienced or been at-risk of homelessness.

With the collaborative care, services, and support of San Bernardino County and its community partners, these resilient individuals have found a place to call home.

Profiles of Hope will highlight milestones and provide the roadmap to self-sufficiency and how San Bernardino County provides its residents with the tools they need to overcome their greatest challenges.

Join us each month as we bring you their stories of courage, resiliency, and hope within the largest geographic county in the nation.

Record Number Attend Children’s Network Conference

Children’s Network celebrated its first in-person conference since the pandemic on Sept. 14. The sold-out conference had a record number of more than 400 in attendance. The one-day conference is one of the Inland Empire’s premier training events for professionals in the fields of social work, mental health, juvenile justice, child development, child welfare, and nursing.

Two dynamic speakers who used life experiences to address the needs of youth in the foster care system and those with disabilities shared their stories. Workshops focused on providing better care and support to the children and families in San Bernardino County.

The first keynote speaker, Regina Louise, lived in many foster homes, group homes and facilities. Louise is an accomplished author of the memoir, Somebody’s Someone, and has educated over 3.5 million people across the nation about the present state of youth in foster care. She is a child welfare executive coach and a trainer of cultural humility and trauma-informed care practices.

The second speaker, Gabriel Uribe, is the director of community health at the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and professor of social work policy at La Sierra University. Uribe is a social service professional committed to the delivery of accessible health care for low-income and underrepresented communities. He is president of the Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative (IEDC) that resources to disability service professionals.

County Hosted Halloween Events

A graphic of a nighttime scene with full moon glow and a hill with pumpkins carved faces and bats flying around.

Just in time for some Spooktacular, safe Halloween free or low-cost events for the entire family. Visit Ayala Park, the Alpine Zoo, Calico Ghost Town or our Child Support Services Trunk-or-Treat Resource Fair.

Calico Ghost Haunt

Weekend I: Oct. 21-23 | Weekend II: Oct. 28-30

Every year, Calico Ghost Town brings out the scare, fun and excitement of Halloween. This annual event includes, trick-or-treating, costume contests, pumpkin carving, kids’ carnival tent, live entertainment stage shows, haunted attractions and more.

Come join us for this family and pet-friendly event the last two weekends of October and you may experience some Pumpkin Mayhem madness.

Calico Ghost Town is located at 36600 Ghost Town Road in Yermo. Admission prices are $15 for Adults, $10 for youth (ages 4-11) and 3 years and younger are free. For event schedule and/or more event information, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/calico-ghost-haunt.

Event Dates & Times:

Weekend I

Friday, Oct. 21: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (scare hours, 5-9 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 22: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (scare hours, 6-10 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 22: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weekend II

Friday, Oct. 28: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (scare hours, 5-9 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (scare hours, 6-10 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lake Gregory Company’s PJs In The Park

Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A graphic with popcorn on the top and the word Lake Gregory presents PJ's in the Park Oct. 29.

What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by watching an outdoor movie under the stars in the mountains by a lake, spooky right?

Dress in your pajamas or comfortable clothes and join us at Lake Gregory in Crestline for the Hotel Transylvania presentation starting at 7 p.m.

The film will be shown outside in the Meadow at San Moritz Lodge, so please dress appropriately as night temperatures tend to be a bit chilly.

This event is free and will be hosted by the Lake Gregory Company, a Regional Parks grantee. Bring your friends and family, along with a blanket and/or snacks. Popcorn and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

The Meadow is located at San Moritz Lodge, 24640 San Moritz Dr., Crestline, CA 92325

For more information, call 909.338.2233, email info@lakegregory.com, or visit Lake Gregory Events

Crestline Merchant Trick or Treating

Saturday, Oct. 29, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A graphic of children dressed in Halloween costumes and the words Oct. 29 Trick or Treating.

Before joining us for the movie in the park, Hotel Transylvania, Crestline merchants are inviting families to trick or treat through the main shopping districts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Many stores will be participating and this is a safe and family friendly way to stock up on some goodies to eat before the movie starts at 7pm.

This event is free and open to all. For city parking, there is parking around the city that is free, but very limited. Parking lots are available but require a fee.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo – Boo at the Zoo Event

Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo Boo Halloween event at the Zoo returns on Saturday, October 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers a safe and fun way to trick-or-treat in a costume.

Spend the day with our animals and find the perfect background to take a selfie or family photo in their costume. There will be plenty of candy on hand, so bring your Halloween bags and your best costume. Please do not bring costumes that make noise and could scare the animals.

The Boo at the Zoo event is included in the price of admission to the zoo.

General Admission Prices
• Adult (Ages 13-59): $15
• Older Adult (over 60 years old): $10
• Youth (Ages 3-12): $10
• Children under 2 years: Free
• Military Discount: Current or Retired Military (with ID) $10. This discount is for military personnel only.
• Group Discounts: For groups of 10 or more, a discount of $1 per person will apply. Groups of 10 must ALL be together to receive the discount, available only at the ticket counter.

For more information about the zoo, visit Big Bear Alpine Zoo.

Trick or Treat! Ayala Park Hosts Spooktacular Halloween Event

A graphic flier of some children dressed in costumes walking with treat bags and a full moon and spooky trees.

Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Bloomington Recreation and Parks for a safe, family-friendly event at Ayala Park on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with music, games food vendors and a spooky haunted house* — enter if you dare to be scared.

San Bernardino County Special Districts will be partnering with County Fire, Sheriffs and Colton Unified Joint School District to meet and greet the public and pass out candy.

There will be a spooky DJ and dance performance and plenty of trunk-or-treating opportunities for the little ghosts and goblins to fill their bags as they walk pass volunteer vehicle trunks filled with treats.

This event is free and open to Bloomington and neighboring communities in the Inland Empire.

*Admission to the haunted house is a separate activity and is $5 for children and $8 for adults. The haunted house is open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Ayala Park is located at 17909 Marygold Ave., Bloomington.

For more information, visit Special Districts Bloomington Recreation and Park or call 909.677.0066.

Child Support to Host Trunk or Treat Resource Fair

Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A graphic flier with the word Trunk or Treat in a lit circle with spooky tree limbs on the edges and brown color on bottom.

San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) will be hosting a Trunk or Treat Resource Fair for parents and children on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Loma Linda and Victorville office locations. This is a fun and interactive event to engage and inform parents of the wide variety of resources DCSS offers in supporting their children.

In addition, several community partners will be providing information and access to job skills, health, childcare, nutrition, and more services.

Fair events include children’s activities, candy and costumes.

The Victorville and Loma Linda locations are:

• Victorville Office: 15400 Civic Dr., Victorville
• Loma Linda Office: 10417 Mountain View Ave., Loma Linda

For more information, visit DCSS.

Pet of the Week

A photo of a male tan and white pit bull mix dog looking into the camera while playing outside.

EJ (ID#a712558) is a playful and loving 5-year-old male, tan and white pit bull mix. He has been at the Devore Animal Shelter since August 4. You can adopt EJ as a part of Subaru Loves Pets adoption campaign.

During the month of October, Subaru and its dealers will be partnering with hundreds of local animal shelters and donating up to $3,100 to our County shelters for pets adopted during the campaign.

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

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

Jobs of the Week and Other Hiring Events

San Bernardino County has jobs that will open on Saturday, Oct. 22.

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.

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.

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.