COLTON COURIER WWe
By IECN Staff
Asteel sculpture celebrating the Grand Terrace community and created through a collaboration between the Grand Terrace High School
A.R.T.S Pathway and the Colton High School Welding Pathway made its public debut on May 1 in an Unveiling Celebration bringing together CJUSD and
city leaders.
The sculpture, which has been years in the making, was created by the combined efforts of students and teachers from the two schools. Commissioned by Arevon Energy for the Condor Battery Storage Facility in Grand Terrace, it hangs on a block wall outside the facility, on Taylor Street just north of Main Street. It satisfies
By Manny Sandoval
a city requirement for public art to accompany new city projects.
GTHS students designed the sculpture to represent their city, with design elements depicting things such as wild burros, honey bees, the railroad and Cal Skate.
“Our students, tasked with designing a
Environmental Justice with support from the Warehouse Workers Resource Center, Inland Empire Labor Institute, Inland Empire Labor Council and Inland Coalition for Immigrant
Justice, began at 1:30 p.m. at Feldheym Public Library.
Participants moved through downtown San Bernardino, stopping at City Hall and the San Bernardino Immigration
Bouquet Florist Builds
CJUSD, cont. next pg.
PHOTO CJUSD
A Colton High School Welding Pathway student and teacher stand beside the new Grand Terrace steel sculpture, which students helped fabricate for public display.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Members of SEIU Local 721 march through downtown San Bernardino on May 1, carrying signs calling for public sector jobs and quality working conditions during the May Day demonstration.
PHOTO CJUSD
Students from Grand Terrace and Colton high schools take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new public art installation highlighting Grand Terrace landmarks, history and community identity.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
marcher holds a sign reading “Trump: Hands Off Our Unions!” as a crowd of participants rallies behind them during the May Day protest.
CJUSD (cont.)
- quintessential representation of their community, have done so brilliantly. It was a rewarding experience to work together to create something that will reside in the community for years to come.,” GTHS A.R.T.S. Academy Lead Kari Harvey said. “We truly appreciate being able to collaborate with the Colton High School welding pathway. They are an outstanding program.”
The project represents an exciting chance to bring students from different parts of the district together.
“We have outstanding Career Technical Education programs in our district, and seeing these two different programs from two different schools create something together is an exciting glimpse into the real-world applications for the education our students receive,” Superintendent Frank Miranda said.
“We are so proud of them and excited to unveil this artwork for the community.”
May Day (cont.)
- ed traffic while chanting and rallying in the heat.
The Inland Empire march was part of May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, a global day of labor solidarity rooted in the fight for the eight-hour workday and the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. This year, demonstrations across the country have linked labor rights with immigration protections, economic inequality and community safety.
San Bernardino resident Ron Alvarado, who is running for City Council in the First Ward, said he attended to advocate for local jobs, accountability and community benefit agreements.
“I’m here because I’m here to stand for the community, for public sector jobs, for living wage jobs, for community benefit agreements,” Alvarado said.
Alvarado said San Bernardino needs stronger local control over tax dollars and development decisions.
“It’s time for us to bring that tax dollars and accountability back to the city,” he said. “We need to ensure that developers have community benefit agreements when they develop in San Bernardino to provide those high-paying jobs for our community.”
Ontario resident Andrea Galvan said the march reflected how labor, immigration and environmental justice issues intersect across the Inland Empire.
“I’m here today to be part of this movement of labor and immigrant rights groups and environmental justice groups that have come out across the Inland Empire to fight for our community,” Galvan said. “Because all of these fights are profoundly connected.”
Galvan said the march was about more than one issue.
“We deserve clean air, safe streets, safe communities, and immigrants are welcome here,” she said. “We should be paying workers fairly. All of these fights are connected.”
Fontana resident Luz Perez, also running for Fontana City Council, said immigration enforcement has created fear among families and hurt small businesses.
“When it comes to immigration, it has really affected our communities, especially our small businesses,” Perez said. “They have been really hit by the immigration enforcement. People are just not coming out. People are living in fear.”
Perez said demonstrators were calling for more protections.
“Overall, we just want the raids to stop and we want more safety and protections for our communities,” she said.
Despite the heat, participants from San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario and other Inland Empire communities continued marching and chanting through downtown, underscoring the region’s growing labor and immigrant rights movement.
For organizers and attendees, the message was clear: May Day was not only a national call for worker solidarity, but a local demand for dignity, safety and accountability in one of California’s most heavily impacted regions for warehouse labor, air quality concerns and immigrant communities.
San Bernardino Mayoral Candidates Set Competing Visions as SBVC Forum Turns Tense
By Manny Sandoval
Six candidates running for San Bernardino mayor in 2026 laid out competing visions on housing, homelessness, public safety and City Hall leadership during an April 30 forum that revealed sharp differences over how the city should move forward.
The Mayoral Candidate Forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters at San Bernardino Valley College’s Greek Theater, featured Ivan Garcia, Ronnika Ngalande, Amy Malone, incumbent Mayor Helen Tran, Rick Avila and former Mayor John Valdivia. Candidates were asked how they would address regional housing needs, improve quality of life and guide a city still facing longrunning concerns over homelessness, infrastructure and government stability.
The evening was largely focused on policy, but it also turned tense at moments, including heckling from the audience and pointed exchanges between Tran and Valdivia over each other’s records.
Garcia, a planning commissioner, general contractor and local business owner, said San Bernardino has “real potential” but is being slowed by instability, outdated planning documents and delays in development.
“I’ve worked on development and planning here in the city,” Garcia said. “I’ve seen firsthand what slows things down and what works.”
Garcia said the city needs to update its general and specific plans, fill vacant commissions and advisory boards with more residents, and improve communication about public projects. He said residents deserve clearer information about timelines, permitting and construction progress.
“As a general contractor, I understand what is required to deliver projects,” Garcia said.
Ngalande, a longtime resident and planning commissioner, said the mayor’s primary responsibility is to unify the City Council and represent San Bernardino professionally. She said the city will struggle to advance affordable housing without stronger leadership at City Hall.
“We’re never going to have affordable housing unless we have a leader who’s able to bring unity to the council,” Ngalande said.
Ngalande also criticized what she described as “toxicity and unprofessionalism” in local government, pointing to heckling during the forum as an example of the
conduct she said the city must move beyond. She also called for greater transparency in homelessness funding and nonprofit oversight.
“It’s time that we have bold and honest conversations so we can deliver real change,” she said.
Malone, a public relations professional, homeowner and business owner, framed her campaign as a call for new leadership and said City Hall must repair internal relationships before San Bernardino can make meaningful progress on housing, homelessness and development.
“We can’t take care of anything else when we are not in agreement together as a city,” Malone said. “It’s the responsibility of the mayor to make it work.”
Malone said the city must become easier to work with for developers and businesses, while also changing what she described as a difficult culture at City Hall.
“We want people to know that San Bernardino is open for business,” Malone said.
She also said the city should not wait for the long-discussed navigation center to address homelessness, arguing that vacant buildings could be repurposed more quickly to help families and individuals.
Tran, who is seeking a second term, defended her administration’s record and said the city has made progress on homelessness, housing, infrastructure, public safety and economic development. She said the mayor’s job is to advocate for funding, build regional relationships and hold staff accountable for results.
“As mayor, you have to continue to advocate, go out for funding, seek funding, build relationships,” Tran said.
Tran pointed to recent affordable housing efforts, including federal funding announced by Rep. Pete Aguilar, the Waterman Gardens redevelopment and other projects expected to bring new affordable units to the city. She also said homelessness in San Bernardino has dropped nearly 24%, citing the county’s recent point-in-time count of 1,172 unhoused residents in the city.
“We are making results happen in our city,” Tran said. Avila, a general engineering contractor who described himself as born and raised in San Bernardino, said the city needs practical leadership from someone with business and construction experience. He called for charter changes, high-density housing downtown and a stronger welcome for investors.
“When investors come to your city with a pocket full of money, throw the red carpet out, not the red flags,” Avila said.
Avila said he wants high-density housing near the former Carousel Mall site, along with restaurants and sitdown eateries. He also said the city needs immediate cleanup efforts and a closer review of trash pickup contracts.
“The first day, I’m going to get in my car and I’m going to go to the city yard,” Avila said, adding that available crews should begin cleaning up the city.
Valdivia, who served as mayor and previously represented the Third Ward on the City Council, pointed to housing and infrastructure projects he said moved forward during his time in office. He cited work with the San Bernardino County Housing Authority, improvements in mobile home communities and a 99-home project.
“When I was a city councilman from 2012 to 2018, I was instrumental in the development of several projects,” Valdivia said.
Valdivia criticized Tran’s administration, saying residents have heard “platitudes and excuses” without enough visible progress. He also called for stronger public safety resources, including a new police helicopter, and criticized delays tied to the city’s navigation center.
“There’s not one brick built at the navigation center,” Valdivia said.
The sharpest exchanges came as Tran and Valdivia challenged each other’s records. Tran said she ran in 2022 “because of you, Mr. Valdivia,” adding, “You hurt women staffers on your team” and “cost taxpayers $3.5 million.” Valdivia, in turn, argued that San Bernardino needs a mayor who can better attract development, move projects forward and deliver results.
Despite the tension, the candidates shared broad agreement that San Bernardino must do more to address housing shortages, homelessness, public safety, infrastructure and public trust. Their differences centered on how to get there — through continuity, new leadership, council unity, charter changes, faster project delivery or a return to prior development strategies.
“San Bernardino has real potential,” Garcia said. “But right now, we’re not delivering.”
Redlands
By Manny Sandoval
For more than five decades, Redlands Bouquet Florist has helped families celebrate, grieve and honor life’s biggest moments — one carefully designed arrangement at a time.
Established in 1968, the shop is now owned by Jamison and Sylvia Barrera, who have spent the past 13 years expanding its reach, modernizing its operations and strengthening its reputation as one of the Inland Empire’s premier florists.
The family-run business has grown to three locations, offers same-day delivery and online ordering, and operates through a centralized Redlands hub that serves customers across the region.
“We had no social media when we started,” Sylvia Barrera said. “So we had our son Jordan come in and he elevated our search engine optimization and helped us grow the business.”
That shift helped the shop rise from limited online visibility to becoming one of the top-ranked florists in the cities it serves, she said.
Today, the Redlands location has about 433+ Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating — a point of pride for the Barreras, who say customers often tell them they called because of the shop’s strong reviews.
“Honestly, we just have really great designers,” Sylvia Barrera said.
Those designers are central to the shop’s success. Jamison Barrera said the staff includes floral designers with decades of experience, including one who has been in the industry for more than 34 years and another with more than 32 years of experience.
That experience matters most when customers are ordering flowers for weddings, funerals and other moments that cannot be redone.
“For weddings and funerals, you only have one shot to make it right,” Jamison Barrera said. “I like to make sure we take care of them.”
The shop handles daily arrangements, walk-in orders, same-day deliveries, weddings, funerals, graduations and community events, including work connected to the University of Redlands and local schools.
Much of the business is driven by repeat customers and referrals, including families who return during both joyful and difficult seasons.
“You did my mom’s funeral, now it’s my dad’s,” Sylvia
Barrera said, describing the kind of repeat calls the shop receives. “They’re so happy with what we sent out the first time.”
Jamison Barrera said those generational relationships are among the most meaningful parts of the business.
“You see generational things,” he said. “And that’s nice because those are the best referrals. Better than any reviews you can ever get.”
Freshness is another defining part of the operation. Unlike some florists that receive flowers once or twice a week, Jamison Barrera said he goes to the flower market daily to keep inventory fresh and give designers more options.
“Some flower shops only get [flowers] once or twice a week,” he said. “I do go daily. So not many shops do that.”
That daily access helps support one of the shop’s most popular offerings: designer’s choice arrangements. Customers provide an occasion and budget, then allow the designers to create something custom.
“They let the girls do what they want to do,” Jamison Barrera said. “They say, ‘You guys are the professionals.’”
Sylvia Barrera said customers often request arrangements that are bright, cheerful and memorable, with sunflowers currently among the most popular flowers.
“Everybody wants sunflowers,” she said. “A big request is something bright and pretty — bright and cheerful.”
The Barreras said they have worked to keep prices fair despite rising costs affecting flowers, supplies and other parts of the business.
“Our prices are really fair,” Sylvia Barrera said. “We get good quality flowers. We’re so busy, but we get fresh flowers every day.”
As Mother’s Day approaches, the shop is preparing for one of its busiest weeks of the year. Jamison Barrera said the shop handles about 350 orders for Mother’s Day and about 500 for Valentine’s Day.
“It’s all hands on deck,” he said.
Preparation includes processing large flower shipments, greening vases, building arrangements and coordinating deliveries across the Inland Empire. His recommendation for Mother’s Day customers is simple: order early.
“Order now,” Sylvia Barrera said.
Jamison Barrera said many customers request morning deliveries, but those become harder to guarantee when
orders come in at the last minute.
“We try to accommodate everybody,” he said. “But we have to go in order of preorders because that’s only fair.”
The Barreras also encourage customers to order directly from local storefront florists rather than national call centers or third-party services, where a portion of the sale is often taken before the order reaches a local shop.
“When you order from a 1-800 or any other florist service, they take their cut,” Sylvia Barrera said. “Whatever money is left over is for the arrangement.”
For the Barreras, the shop is also a family effort. Their sons have worked in the business, relatives return during holidays to help with deliveries and orders, and employees are treated as part of the operation’s extended family.
“We’ve been blessed to have had all of our boys work for us,” Sylvia Barrera said.
After 13 years of ownership, the Barreras say the shop’s growth has been fueled by experienced designers, fresh flowers, fair pricing and personal attention.
“I think the personal attention we give to each and everybody,” Jamison Barrera said. “You’re still getting a good quality product and a fair price.”
For a shop that has been part of Redlands since 1968, that approach continues to keep customers coming back — one birthday, wedding, funeral, graduation and Mother’s Day at a time.
Redlands Bouquet Florist is located at 702 W Colton Ave., Unit A, Redlands. Call them at (909) 793-2553 or visit redlandsbouquetflorist.com.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
From left, floral designers Ana Cendejas and Belem Zapata join Sylvia, Jordan and Jamison Barrera inside their Redlands flower shop on May 1, where fresh arrangements are prepared daily.
Redlands’ Texonia Park to Receive $1 Million for Inclusive Playground, Safety Upgrades
Community News
On May 4th, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $1,000,000 in community project funding for the City of Redlands’ Texonia Park Modernization Renovations project. The grant funding will support muchneeded renovations to the amenities in the widely used Texonia Park, improving community safety and accessibility.
Once complete, renovations will include a new off-street parking lot, all-inclusive playground structure, restroom facilities, park lighting, new walking paths, sports fields, an updated picnic area and group reservation spaces.
“Whether it’s on the playground, the soccer field, or the jogging path, Inland Empire families need a safe and fun place to spend time outdoors and
enjoy our beautiful state,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’m proud to deliver this funding for Redlands to upgrade Texonia Park’s amenities and ensure that people in our community can enjoy them for years to come. I will keep working in Congress to deliver resources that make our region an even better place to live and raise a family.
“The addition of $1 million from the congressional Community Project Funding, thanks to the efforts of Congressman Aguilar’s office, will go towards the development of a new inclusive playground, that will provide a space designed for children of all abilities, including those with physical, sensory or intellectual disabilities, to play, explore and interact,” said Mayor Mario Saucedo, City of Redlands. “This was a project that former Mayor Aguilar initially championed when he was a member of the Redlands City Council from 2006 to 2014.”
Spend the day hiking beautiful trails at your own pace or join a guided nature walk with one of our biologists. Learn about future plans for the property. After your hike, celebrate with a complimentary finisher medal and grab a free bite to eat! Leashed dogs are welcome.
PHOTO AGUILAR’S OFFICE
Rep. Pete Aguilar (left) stands with Redlands Mayor Mario Saucedo (right) and city officials and public works staff as they display a $1 million federal funding check for Texonia Park modernization renovations.
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Thank you to our sponsors for supporting local journalism and our Mother’s Day print edition.
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting local journalism and our Mother’s Day print edition. ur
James C. Ramos
Assemblymember, 45 district th Website: a45.asmdc.org
Eloise Gómez Reyes
California State Senator, 29th District
Need help with a state agency?
Call or visit: (909)888-5360
sd29.senate.ca.gov
Joe Baca Jr.
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
California State Senator, 19th District
Phone: (909) 335-0271
Website: sr19.senate.ca.gov
“We are here to help!”
Diana Z. Rodriguez
Chancellor, San Bernardino Community College District Website: SBCCD.edu
San Bernardino County 5th District Supervisor, Vice Chair
Phone: (909) 387-4565 Website: bosd5.sbcounty.gov
Petitioner or Attorney:
MAYRA A MORENO
Superior Court of California, 351 N Arrowhead, San Bernardino, CA 92415 San Bernardino County Superior Court Family Law Division
PETITION OF: MAYRA ALEJANDRA MORENO FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE - CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: CIV SB 2609988 TO ALL INTERESTED
PERSONS: Petitioner:
MAYRA ALEJANDRA
MORENO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: RAYMOND ALEXANDER
SOLIS-HERNANDEZ to Proposed name: RAYMOND ALEXANDER MORENO
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated be ow to show cause if any why the petition for change of name should not be granted Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted If no written ob ection is timely filed the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: 5/28/26, Time: 8:30
Dept: S35 The address of the court is: same as noted above (To appear remotely check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court s website To find your court s website go to www courts ca gov/findmy-court htm )
A copy of this Order to Show Cause must be pub ished at least once each week for four successive weeks before the date set for hearing on the petit on in a newspaper of general circulation printed in this county: Colton Courier
Dated: APR 16 2026
JOSEPH T ORTIZ
Judge of the Superior Court Published Co ton Courier
4/30 5/7 5/14 5/21/26 C-870
Attorney or Party without Attorney: LUZ ELENA VELAZQUEZ-FIGUEROA & JOSE ANTONIO LEOS Attorney for: PETITIONERS IN PRO PER SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 351 N ARROWHEAD AVE SAN BERNARDINO CA 92401
FAMILY COURT IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF: NATHAN NUNEZ-VELAZQUEZ
PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS OF ALLEGED FATHER Case Number: FFCSB2300015
The petitioner(s) LUZ ELENA VELAZQUEZFIGUEROA & JOSE ANTONIO LEOS respectfully represent(s) and allege(s):
1 That the minor child involved in these proceedings is NATHAN NUNEZ-VELAZQUEZ, born on Said minor is presently in the County of San Bernardino State of California in the custody of LUZ ELENA VELAZQUEZFIGUEROA & JOSE A LEOS for the purpose of adoption
2 That petitioner is a person or representat ve of an agency described in §7662 of the Family Code as a party authorized to file this petition
3 That LUZ ELENA VELAZQUEZ-FIGUEROA is the mother of said minor
4 b That the minor ’s mother was not married at the time m nor was born nor for 300 days preceding the birth
5 That the natural father of said minor is RODRIGO NUNEZ DE-LEON who resides at Deported 2019 back to Mexico his
whereabouts is unknown
6 a That the minor ’s mother and said father did not cohabit
7 That the minor s mother and sa d father did not attempt to marry each other before or after the birth of said child
8 That the father did not openly hold out the child as his natural child and receive it as such into his home
9 That no child support payments, other than token amounts have been made by sa d father voluntarily or pursuant to court order to petitioner or any other person for the support of said minor, and he has failed to communicate with said minor
10 That no action has been brought nor is any action pending for the purpose of having declared the existence or non-existence between the part es of the relationship of parent and child
13 The father to my knowledge is not presently in the Armed Services
WHEREFORE the petitioner prays that the Court find and declare that is the natural father of said child; that is the natural father of said child; and that the consent of said father is not necessary for the adoption of said child
Petitioner prays for an order that the parental rights of and any other possible natural father be terminated
Date: 03/01/2023
Fax Signature per CRC
2 305 /s/ Luz Elena VelazquezFigueroa
Signature of Petitioner
Date: 03/01/2023
Fax Signature per CRC
2 305 /s/ Jose Antonio Leos
Signature of Petitioner
VERIFICATION
I have read the foregoing Petition to Terminate Parental Rights of A leged Father and know the contents thereof; and that the same is true of my own knowledge, except as to the matters which are therein stated upon my information or belief and as to those matters that I believe them to be true I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct Executed on 03/01/2023 at SAN BERNARDINO California
Fax Signature per CRC
2 305 /s/ Luz Elena VelazquezFigueroa
Signature of Petitioner
Fax Signature per CRC
2 305 /s/ Jose Antonio Leos
Signature of Petitioner
Published Colton Courier 4/30 5/7 5/14 5/21/26 C-869
Published in Colton Courier C-871
Fictitious Business Name Statement FBN20260003867 Statement fi ed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino 04/24/2026 The fo lowing person(s) is (are) doing bus ness as: CITRUS EMPIRE JUICE CO , 2644 N CEDAR AVE RIALTO CA 92377 County of Pr nc pal Place of Bus ness: SAN BERNARDINO Bus ness mail ng address: 2644 N CEDAR AVE RIALTO CA 92377 # of Employees: 1 Name: FERNANDO TRINIDAD This bus ness is/was conducted by (a/an): INDIVIDUAL Reg strant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names l sted above on NOT APPLICABLE By signing I dec are that all information in this statement is true and correct A registrant
($1
/s/ FERNANDO TRINIDAD OWNER Notice- In accordance with subdvision (a) of Section 17920, a f ct t ous name statement genera ly expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was f led in the Office of the County Clerk
5/21/26 Published in Colton Courier C-874 Fictitious Business Name Statement FBN20260003645 Statement f led w th the County Clerk of San Bernardino 04/16/2026 The following person(s) is (are) do ng business as: US ECOLOGY 17474 CATALPA ST HESPERIA, CA 92345 County of Principal P ace of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Business mai ing address: 5353 R CITY NORTH DR PHOENIX AZ 85054 Name: US ECOLOGY TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS INC 5353 E CITY NORTH DRIVE PHOENIX AZ 85054 State of Inc /Org /Reg :
fi ing of this statement does not of tself author ze the use n this state of a f ctitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal state or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq Business and Professions Code)
Published 4/30,5/7,5/14,5/21/26 Published in Colton Courier C-877 Fictitious Business Name Statement FBN20260003820 Statement filed with the County C erk of San Bernard no 04/23/2026
The fol owing person(s) s (are) doing bus ness as: FINE BEAUTY BAR 1313 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE COLTON CA 92324 County of Pr ncipa Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Business ma ling address: 1313 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE COLTON CA 92324
Name: BLANCA E VALENCIA MAGANA Th s business is/was conducted by (a/an): INDIVIDUAL Reg strant commenced to transact bus ness under the f ctitious business name or names listed above on APR 22 2021 By sign
Headdress Ball Draws 300 to Fund Dental Care, Clothing for San Bernardino Students
By Manny Sandoval
About 300 people gathered Saturday, May 2, at the National Orange Show for the Assistance League of San Bernardino’s 64th annual Headdress Ball, a longtime fundraiser supporting local students in need.
Proceeds from the event help fund oral healthcare for students in San Bernardino city schools, as well as clothing, shoes and school supplies for underserved children throughout the year.
The need remains significant. Over the years, Inland Empire Community News has heard stories of San Bernardino students sharing shoes with siblings, going
without their own pair for school, or lacking basic hygiene items such as a toothbrush.
Saturday’s fundraiser paired that mission with one of the organization’s signature traditions: elaborate headdress performances.
This year’s theme, “A Murder Mystery,” centered on a fictional chef who prepared the evening’s dessert before being “murdered,” leaving one of the night’s 12 headdress performers as a potential suspect.
Each performer wore an intricately designed headdress, accompanied by music, lighting and four to eight dancers. The pieces ranged in style and detail from Wheel of Fortune to Mario Cart, with each performance
bringing its own storyline, staging and visual impact to the ballroom.
The event drew community supporters, including Inland Empire Community News Publisher Emeritus Gloria Macias Harrison, who sponsored a table.
For the Assistance League of San Bernardino, the annual ball remains more than a formal gala. It is a major fundraising effort that helps provide students with health care, clothing and supplies that can affect their confidence, attendance and ability to learn.
More information about the organization is available at assistanceleague.org/san-bernardino.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
A Las Vegas-themed “Lady Luck” headdress takes center stage during the mystery-themed Headdress Ball at the National Orange Show.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
A vibrant Wheel of Fortune headdress fills the stage during a choreographed performance at the Assistance League of San Bernardino’s 64th annual Headdress Ball.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Dancers surround a red fan-and-lantern-themed headdress during one of 12 performances at the Assistance League’s annual fundraiser.
