Colton Courier 12 22 2016

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W e e k l y COLTON COURIER Features, Lifestyle & News You Can Use!

Vol 145, NO. 1

THIS WEEK

Gloria’s Corner and Words To Think About A3 & A5

The Way celebrates Christmas early with over 2,000 San Bernardino youth

A7

Colton Fire Dept. making children smile through holiday donations

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By Anthony Victoria

ifty underrepresented students were allowed to walk through Wal-Mart last Thursday to pick out Christmas gifts, courtesy of the Colton Fire Department. This is the 21st year the department holds the ‘Make A Child Smile‘ event. The Colton Joint Unified School District students were accompanied by firefighters and allowed to roam down the aisles, picking out bicycles, dolls, footballs, board games and clothing. Each student was given $100 spending spree. “This is an awesome opportunity for us to interact with our community,” expressed Colton Fire Chief Tim McHargue. “This is moving for us. I think it hits us more than it does the kids. Part of culture is giving back. This is a really big deal for us.” According to Colton Joint Unified School District representative Diane Calles, the fifty children attend Grant, Fire cont. on next page

Photo/Anthony ViCtoriA

Colton is feeling Santa Claus’ presence this holiday season.

Patient's build Gingerbread Village exhibit at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital A9

INSIDE ONE SECTION, 16 PAGES

Gloria’s Corner A3 Words To think About A5 Legal Notices A11 Opinion A4 Sports A16

HOW TO REACH US Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Fax: (909) 384-0406 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: sales@iecn.com

Photo/CJUSD

Colton and Loma Linda firefighters with the 50 students of the Colton Joint Unified School District

IECN

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December 22, 2016

Residents embrace Christmas spirit

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he holiday spirit is strong in Colton this year. Just ask Estela Piceno, who devotes time every year to help low income residents. Piceno, along with Councilman Dr. Luis Gonzalez, visited a residence near the 500 block of H Street to provide gifts to a family that recently lost a family member. The community advocate said she felt compelled to act. “To me Christmas is everyday,” said Piceno. “We are here to support one another.” Just a few buildings down, non profit organization Seeds of Hope held their eighth annual Santa’s Workshop toy drive at Leno’s Rico Taco. The organization’s founder Gloria Gaona echoed Piceno’s sentiments--indicating that one could turn grief into hope. “I lost my husband,” Gaona revealed. “However, we’ve put this together through a collaborative effort. It’s helped me heal.” Earlier in the week Parks and Recreation Commissioner Paul Rasso, with the help of his daughter Cece and Colton Joint Unified School District board member, visited several homes dressed as Santa Claus (or Frijolito Claus as he likes to call himself), handing out toys. Hitched onto the back of a lowrider, Rasso visited several families on Friday evening to “deliver some Christmas cheer.” “It’s always awesome to see the smiles and joy from parents and kids,” Rasso wrote on social media. “But it really touched my heart tonight when one little boy told me all he wanted was to take care of his mom and dad.” Cecilia Castorena, who runs her own nutrition business in Colton, received a surprise on Saturday evening when her son, Robert Limon, walked inside the American Legion Post 155 for the toy drive she helped organize. Castorena wasn’t expecting her 20-year-old son to come back from his U.S. Army post in Fort Bliss, Texas until Tuesday. Earlier in the day she had joked that Robert was there in spirit as an inflatable Santa Claus with a military outfit. “It was a complete surprise to me,” Castorena explained. “Christmas came early for me.” Photos on page 2


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